bad dialogue
Stilted character speech
Bad dialogue is speech in fiction that fails to sound natural or serve its purpose.
Characters may speak in ways no real person would—delivering exposition clumsily, stating the obvious, or talking identically regardless of background.
The villain explained his entire plan for no reason.
Bad dialogue often tells rather than shows: I'm feeling angry because you betrayed me, and that makes me sad.
In screenwriting and fiction workshops, spotting bad dialogue is a core skill.
- clunkyAwkward and cumbersome
- woodenMade from timber
- stiltedUnnaturally formal in expression
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
- as you knowPresupposing listener's awareness
cringe · awkward · unnatural · cheesy · B movie · melodramatic · forced · flat · corny · stiff · hammy · bad acting · overwrought · clichéd · monologue · screenplay · script doctor · soap opera
- B-moviesB-movie, exploitation film, exploitation films, cult film, cult classic
- writing flawstypos, spelling errors, plot hole, plot holes, cliche
quality of written/spoken exchange
bad dialoguesnappy dialogue